What Is Managed Cloud Hosting?

Websites need space on the Internet to work, and hosting providers give them that space. One way they do this is through cloud hosting.

This article covers everything you need to know about managed cloud hosting, a specific type of cloud hosting solution.

What Is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is a technology that makes computing resources available on-demand and accessible via the Internet.

Over 90% of companies directly or indirectly use cloud computing to get resources like data storage and servers for their sites and businesses as of 2024.

There are three main categories of cloud services namely;

What Is a Managed Cloud?

A managed cloud is a service model where a third-party provider manages and maintains the cloud infrastructure — security, support, and technical operations — allowing clients to focus on their core business activities.

Customers can pick which resources they manage or let the provider handle everything.

What Is Managed Cloud Hosting?

Managed cloud hosting is a type of web hosting where the hosting provider is responsible for your website and business's resources, servers, and infrastructure, either partially or fully.

Managed cloud hosting combines cloud hosting benefits with expert IT management. It hosts your website on cloud servers accessible online to many users at once.

Unmanaged vs. Managed Cloud Hosting: What Is the Difference?

Here’s the differences between managed and unmanaged cloud web hosting at a glance:

Feature	Unmanaged Cloud Hosting	Managed Cloud Hosting
Access to Cloud	Providers offer access to the cloud infrastructure but users are responsible for installing applications, tools, etc	Providers handle all technical aspects including setup, maintenance, and support of the cloud infrastructure
User Responsibility	Users are responsible for managing and maintaining applications, tools, and the operating environment.	The provider manages, maintains, and ensures smooth operation of all technical aspects
Technical Management	Requires users to have or acquire technical knowledge for setup and ongoing management	The provider's expertise ensures all resources on the managed cloud server are efficiently handled
Support	Limited or self-service based; users must solve technical issues on their own	Comprehensive support provided by the provider, often including 24/7 assistance
Ideal For	Individuals or organizations with the technical capability to manage their cloud environment	Businesses seeking to focus on core operations without the hassle of managing cloud infrastructure.

Advantages of Managed Cloud Hosting

Cost-effective: Managed cloud hosting cuts costs since the provider handles maintenance and operation. Your main job is just to pay for the services.
Automatic Upgrades: Your provider ensures your cloud server stays updated with the latest technology. This saves you the hassle, offering significant time-savig benefits.
Recovery Plan: Managed cloud hosting providers use fail-safes to ensure your website has minimal downtime and can quickly recover lost data, making a disaster recovery plan crucial.
24/7 Support: Most managed cloud hosting providers offer 24/7 support with experts ready to quickly solve any issues you encounter.
Enhanced Security: Cloud security is complex and needs skilled staff, which are hard to find. Managed cloud hosting providers have the expertise and team to protect your network from unauthorized access.
Reliability: A solid network infrastructure is crucial but tricky to establish. If not done right, it can harm your site. Managed cloud hosting takes this worry away, as the provider's experts handle the setup for you.
Centralized Control: Using a managed service provider for your cloud infrastructure puts all controls in one spot, making network management and support easier. This way, any network changes or upgrades can be done quickly.

Comparing Managed Cloud Hosting Plans

As of 2024, there are over 330 000 web hosting providers.

Seeing as most providers offer managed cloud hosting due to its growing popularity, many different plans offer different amounts of resources at different prices.

Verpex offers plans for three managed cloud servers at different prices. The most affordable plan includes:

4GB Dedicated RAM
80GB Dedicated SSD Disk Space
2 Dedicated Xeon vCPUs
Unlimited Traffic
cPanel/WHM
Backups
SSL Certificates
Unlimited websites
App installer
24/7 support

Additionally, Verpex has a three-step domain transfer process that allows users to transfer their domain to Verpex easily and quickly.

Considerations for Choosing a Managed Cloud Hosting Provider

Selecting the correct managed cloud hosting provider is vital for your online presence and efficiency.

To assist in this decision-making process, here's a comprehensive checklist to evaluate potential providers:

Reliability and Uptime Guarantees: Look for providers offering high uptime guarantees, typically 99.9% or higher, to ensure your website or application is always available to users.
Security Measures: Ensure the provider has robust security protocols in place, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and regular security audits to protect your data.
Customer Support: Opt for a provider with a reputation for strong customer support, offering 24/7 assistance via multiple channels like phone, email, and live chat.
Compliance Standards: Check if the provider meets industry-specific compliance standards (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS) that are relevant to your business.
Scalability: The provider should offer flexible and scalable solutions that can grow with your business, allowing you to easily upgrade resources as needed.
Performance Optimization: Look for features that enhance performance, such as content delivery networks (CDN), SSD storage, and optimized server configurations.
Price and Contract Terms: Review the pricing structure and contract terms carefully. Consider the cost-effectiveness of the plan in relation to the features and services provided.
Customization and Control: Ensure the provider offers enough customization options and control over your environment to meet your specific needs.
Technology Partnerships and Integrations: Check if the provider has partnerships with key technology vendors and supports integrations with the tools and services your business relies on.
User Reviews and Testimonials: Research user reviews and testimonials to gauge customer satisfaction and get insights into the provider's service quality and reliability.

Final Remarks

Managed cloud hosting is a new, reliable way to host your website on fast and secure servers.

Your chosen provider handles all the technical tasks, and you can rest assured that the provider's experts will take good care of your website.

They manage, maintain, and operate your hosting backend, resolving any issues. And to top it all off, most providers offer managed cloud hosting at an affordable price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I try a managed cloud server?

We’d highly recommend using a managed service, especially if you don’t have the technical skills to run a website. It might cost a little extra, but it certainly takes the stress out of site management.

How many websites can I host in the cloud?

Our cloud hosting packages allow up to 10 websites to be hosted simultaneously.

Do I need technical knowledge to use cloud hosting?

Not necessarily. Under a fully managed hosting package Verpex will take care of all the technical aspects for you.

Will cloud hosted websites be backed up?

Yes, Verpex performs daily backups of all sites hosted.

What is the difference between cloud and managed cloud?

Cloud computing combines servers, storage, networking, and software with intelligence, monitoring, and analytics while managed cloud services handle these elements in a central data center.